Changing Paths: Uplifting Newark Youth Through Literacy And Mentorship

In the heart of Newark’s South Ward, where systemic challenges often cast long shadows, a grassroots nonprofit is lighting a new path for youth impacted by incarceration, poverty and disinvestment. 

Changing Paths, founded by Newark native Sami Armstrong, Changing Paths, founded by Newark native Sami Armstrong, provides mentorship, literacy programs, and community support for youth — particularly those impacted by incarceration — to help them thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.

Most importantly, Changing Paths is more than a youth development organization: it’s a bold act of hope, healing and community-rooted change.

“I saw a repeated cycle,” Armstrong recalls. “The school-to-prison pipeline wasn’t just a concept — it was personal. Friends. Family. It was survival, not opportunity.” His response? Build a space where Newark’s youth, especially those with incarcerated parents, could be seen, supported, and guided.

A Vision Born from Experience

Armstrong’s own upbringing in Newark informs every aspect of Changing Paths’ mission. “Poverty is the biggest drug in America,” he said. “We hustle to survive — but what if survival didn’t mean sacrifice?” From mentorship to literacy, Changing Paths is about giving youth access to alternatives. “I wanted to be that in-person role model — not someone you just see on camera,” he said.

The organization is currently based in the South Ward, with plans to expand across Newark’s Central, West, and East Wards, and eventually into other urban cities. Armstrong envisions community hubs in every ward, offering everything from tutoring and career prep to life-skills workshops and advocacy for justice-impacted youth.

Flagship Programs with Real Impact

Changing Paths operates a range of impactful programs designed to support and empower youth. Among these are Young, Black & Gifted, a boys’ mentoring program that provides positive male role models and fosters leadership skills, and Let’s Grow Together, which offers a safe, empowering space for girls to build confidence, share stories, and dream big. 

The organization also offers Advocacy & Reentry Support, providing targeted assistance to youth who have experienced incarceration or have incarcerated family members. Through Field Trips & Community Engagement, participants are introduced to new environments and opportunities, from local libraries to technology expos.

 Perhaps most beloved among these initiatives is Bedtime Stories, Changing Paths’ flagship literacy program, which continues to inspire a love of reading and learning.

Bedtime Stories: Literacy Rooted in Love

Three nights a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, Newark youth log on virtually at 7 p.m. for Bedtime Stories, where they read alongside volunteers, peers, and co-directors like Annie Godfrey and Simuel Gordon.

“It started with adults reading,” said Godfrey, who joined the program earlier this year. “But now, by the fourth or fifth session, the kids were asking, Can I read? And that’s when we knew we had something powerful.”

Over 250 books have been read aloud since February, most of which feature characters of color and culturally reflective stories. “Representation matters,” Godfrey said. “When our kids see themselves in books, they believe more is possible.”

For Gordon, the program also addresses the quiet grief and disruption that incarceration causes. “If your parent is locked up, who’s reading to you? Who’s pouring into you?” he said. “We are. We step in.”

The goal, Armstrong adds, is not just literacy. “It’s love. Structure. Encouragement. And a nightly reminder that someone is showing up for you.”

Community, Culture, and Staying Grounded

As a Black-founded and Black-led organization, Changing Paths stands out in Newark’s nonprofit landscape. “We’re not trying to follow trends,” Gordon said. “We’re independent. Rooted. Real. Connected to Newark’s schools, businesses, and most importantly, its people.”

That authenticity has earned Changing Paths not only community trust but parent participation — something Gordon says is a major marker of success. “These kids have energy — a lot of it. But that energy can be guided. And when parents get involved, that’s when transformation really starts.”

Armstrong agrees. “When I grew up, we had a real community. After-school programs. Safe spaces. Mentors. That’s what Changing Paths is recreating — with a modern edge and a deeper urgency.”

The Road Ahead

From weekly storytime to full-scale ward expansions, Changing Paths is on the move. Armstrong’s dream? To serve 300 to 500 students consistently, six days a week, with dedicated centers offering everything youth need to succeed: mentoring, meals, mental health support, and exposure to the world beyond Newark’s borders.

“They deserve it,” he said. “They deserve to dream bigger, read better, and be better — because someone believed in them.”

And for the kids of Newark, that belief begins with a story, a screen, and the words: “Once upon a time.”